L to R: Mark Evans, HEB Construction, Marja Lubeck, MP Kaipara ki Mahurangi, Doug Johnson, Tonkin + Taylor, Brett Gilddon, Waka Kotahi, Hon Michael Wood, Michael Baker, Ngaati Whanaunga, Tracey Ryan, Aurecon, Ben Hayward Fulton Hogan, Te Warena Taua, Te Kawerau ā Maki, Mook Hohneck, Ngāti Manuhiri.

Penlink partners put pen to paper

Last Friday, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency formally announced the successful construction partners for delivering Penlink, the new two-lane, proposed toll road in North Auckland.

HEB Construction, Fulton Hogan, Aurecon and Tonkin + Taylor gathered with Waka Kotahi to formally sign the agreement that saw the group become an alliance to construct the eagerly awaited new connection.

The seven-kilometre road and shared path for people walking and on wheels is part of the Government’s $8.7 billion New Zealand Upgrade Programme (NZUP) and will provide better, safer, more reliable transport options for communities across Whangaparāoa, Hibiscus Coast and Silverdale.

It will enhance the lives of those living and working in these growing communities and this alliance will bring industry leading skills and experience to the table.

At the signing ceremony, Mana Whenua gifted the name Ō Mahurangi to the project. This is in recognition of the ancestress Mahurangi, a tohunga (priestess) who lived in Hawaiiki and whose powers are said to have enabled the construction of the great voyaging waka Tainui.

When Tainua waka arrived at what is now known as Wenderholm Regional Park in around 1200, they gave the name Mahurangi to a small island adjacent to the Maungatauhoro headland. The islands' name gave rise to the harbour in which it sits, and eventually to the wider district and the Crown's land purchase.

Waka Kotahi truly values the partnership and relationship with our iwi partners on this project and were humbled by this gesture.

A concept image of the Wēiti River Crossing.

Environment at the heart of the design

All projects in the NZUP have targets to reduce construction emissions in order to meet the Waka Kotahi vision to have a low carbon, safe and healthy transport system.

Waka Kotahi identified that the Wēiti River Crossing would be the largest single contributor to Penlink’s embodied emissions, so exploring innovative solutions and ways to reduce its carbon footprint was a strong focus for the alliance during the procurement process.

During the tendering process the alliance refined the design which now delivers significant improvements from the original bridge, including:

• Reducing the number of piers in the Wēiti River, from three to two. This reduces the impact on the marine environment and allows clearer views and passage through the navigation channel.
• Construction methodologies have been improved, including a reduction in temporary staging which help to minimise greenhouse gas emissions.
• A lowered entrance to the crossing will better fit with the landscape, enabling 235 metres to be trimmed off the overall crossing, reducing the amount of steel and concrete required.
• A cable supported crossing reduces the amount of concrete required, significantly reducing construction emissions and the northern pier has also been moved away from the coastal cliff to avoid excavation into the cliff face.

A conceptual fly-through from SH1 Redvale to Whangaparāoa Road

Check out the conceptual fly-through

Explore the animated fly-through of the design for construction here. Please note that this is indicative only.

We will be meeting with key stakeholders and community groups over the coming weeks and months to share more information and discuss the design.

About Penlink

Penlink will form a vital connection for north Auckland, linking the Whangaparāoa Peninsula with wider Auckland. The 7km road will offer greater transport capacity and travel choice and support planned growth in Silverdale, Dairy Flat and the Hibiscus Coast in the decades to come.

The two-lane road with a shared use path for people walking and on bikes will also provide surrounding communities more sustainable transport choices by supporting better transport access and providing a safer journey.

Penlink is part of the New Zealand Upgrade Programme, the Government’s $8.7 billion investment in growing areas across the country. Communities can look forward to transport improvements that provide more travel choices, help people get where they’re going safely and grow our economy, while responding to the impacts of travel on the environment.

Contact us

For more information, please contact us at penlink@nzta.govt.nz or 0800 PENLINK (0800 7365 465).

You can also visit www.nzta.govt.nz/penlink for general information on Penlink and to subscribe our e-updates.